Insiders Tell Of Multiple Scandals And Attempted Cover-up In China's Forbidden City

A string of recent scandals at Beijing's Palace Museum leaves the
nation questioning the credibility and security measures behind
the walls of China's Forbidden City.

In the most recent incident, museum officials allegedly covered
up a 2009 embezzlement by paying 100,000 yuan, or $15,588, to
keep a videotape from becoming public, sources told Caixin
news.

The videotape was said to record tour guides and security guards
pocketing ticket sales.

Instead of reporting the tape -- along with a payment request of
200,000 yuan -- to authorities, officials paid a lump-sum to an
anonymous person to keep matters quiet.

The incident came shortly after accusations from a
Chinese state television host that the Forbidden City was
being used as an exclusive club for the wealthy. With $150,000
"membership fee," anyone could supposedly transform the
traditional walls into their own private club.

In July, the museum denied that five famous calligraphies from
the Song Dynasty (960-1279) were secretly auctioned off or ever
part of their collection.

A heist in 2011 prompted concerns of the supposed strict
surveillance when a visitor "knocked a hole in the wall" and
stole 10 million yuan, or $1.5 million, worth of 20th century
items on loan from Hong Kong.

Three days after the theft, Beijing police arrested 28-year-old
Shi
Baikui at an internet cafe and part of the stolen pieces have
been recovered.